You might have heard the phrase “living in someone’s shadow,” which can make someone feel overlooked. However, in the professional world, “shadowing” someone is a great way to learn about a job.
Job shadowing allows you to learn from a professional during their day-to-day routine and can be beneficial for both you and the person you are shadowing. It also looks great on a resume when you’re an entry-level applicant.
That’s why, in this article, we’ll be going over:
- How to put shadowing on your resume
- How to describe a shadowing experience
- Shadowing experience examples
The good news is that with our AI resume builder, you can easily include shadowing experience on your resume thanks to the instant suggestions and text that it provides.
The better news is that below, you can get even more information on how to put observation hours on a resume to impress a hiring manager.
Table of Contents:
What Is Job Shadowing?
Job shadowing, in simple terms, is watching a professional at work and studying what they do and how they do it. This can last a few hours, days, or even weeks. It’s like getting a behind-the-scenes tour of a job and offers the chance to observe:
- Professionals in the field
- Daily responsibilities
- Skill requirements
If you’re a high school senior, a recent college graduate, or someone thinking about a new career and you don’t have much experience, shadowing can be very helpful.
It can also be extremely beneficial for those who want to work in the medical field, such as doctors and nurses.
Why Is Job Shadowing Important?
You now know a bit more about job shadowing. But why is it so important?
Here’s why you should consider job shadowing:
- Get a real feel: Shadowing lets you see the daily life of a job. It’s like a sneak peek into a career and daily tasks.
- A chance to observe: By watching professionals, you can decide if that job fits your preferences.
- Check your skills: During shadowing, you’ll see which skills are important. You can then decide if you need more training or a certification.
- Network, network, network: Shadowing is a chance to meet people in the field. These contacts can give advice or even help you find a job later on.
Not only is job shadowing influential for you as an applicant, but it can also help you in the future as an employee, as 89% of organizations that have job shadowing reported an improvement in employee engagement.
Where to Find Job Shadowing Opportunities
There are a number of different sectors that are willing to offer job shadowing opportunities to students and interns.
You can find job shadowing opportunities in workplaces in the following sectors:
- Teaching
- Counseling
- Office work
- Marketing and finance
- Accounting
- Legal assisting
- Engineering
It’s worth pointing out that job shadowing is very important in the medical field. So, if you are wondering how to put shadowing on a resume as a pre-med, it’s a good idea to follow the tips below.
How To List Shadowing Hours on Your Resume
As with work experience, you would list your accomplishments and activities you observed or possibly assisted with in a bulleted list beneath the company information and dates you shadowed.
Don’t have traditional work experience? No worries! If you’ve spent time shadowing professionals, that’s valuable too. Make sure to include it on your resume.
How to add your shadowing experience:
- Choose the right section: You should add your shadowing assignment In the “Work Experience” section.
- Detail your shadowing experience: Mention where you shadowed, the dates, and the person’s name and title you shadowed.
- Use a clear format: List what you learned or did by using clear language and quantifiable data with bullet points.
For example, if you shadowed as a med student, you would list:
- The number of patients you interacted with or surgeries you observed
- The information about that system and the measured increase in job satisfaction
💡 top tip
Don’t mention how many hours you shadowed. Save that for interviews. Focus on what you learned.
Shadowing Experience Examples
It’s not easy adding experience that technically wasn’t employment. However, by doing it the right way, you’ll be able to impress an employer with what you’ve learned.
For example, job shadowing in a law office might look like this:
👌 Example
Shadow Experience
Law Offices of Matlock & Finch
New York, NY
June – July 2024
- Shadowed paralegal to observe processes for filing motions and pleadings, preparing retainers, drafting legal documents, and assembling legal articles.
- Observed client interviews.
- Engaged in coordinating case schedules with courts, attorneys, and witnesses.
Or, shadowing an office manager or similar individual in a corporate setting:
👌 Example
Shadow Experience
Stickley Office Solutions
Easton, PA
January 2024
- Followed Executive Administration Assistant to record daily operations of 30+ person office.
- Observed mail distribution, order placement, invoice processing, and shipment receiving processes.
- Attended office budget and planning meetings.
A shadowing experience in the education field:
👌 Example
Shadow Teacher
McGonagall Elementary School
Hempstead, NY
September – November 2023
- Observed the coordination of daily lessons and activities with first-grade teachers.
- Assisted in classroom management duties.
- Ensured proper interaction of students in and outside the classroom (cafeteria, playground, etc.).
- Attended parent-teacher conferences.
- Maintained inventory of classroom supplies.
Shadowing hours for medical students
As we mentioned, having job shadowing hours as a medical student is key! So, if you’ve been asking yourself, “Should I put shadowing my resume as a premed?”
The answer is a definite yes.
Review the following example to understand what you need to write if you’re working to be a doctor or nurse one day:
👌 Example
Student (shadowing)
Hackensack Medical Center
Hackensack, NJ
February 2023 – April 2023
- Shadowed Dr. Marcus Welby for 80 hours; made rounds and observed patient exams, diagnoses, and treatment options.
- Attended surgical procedures.
- Observed residents draw blood, treat minor wounds, provide stitches, and record vitals.
Medical students often shadow first responders or volunteer rescue teams. And unlike other jobs, they usually need to mention how many hours they shadowed.
Key Points
If you’re a student or changing careers, shadowing is a great way to add an experience to your resume. But remember to add it correctly; you’ll need to do what we mentioned, such as:
- Add shadowing to your experience section
- Use job shadowing as a learning and networking opportunity
- Include data in clear and organized bullet points
With our resume builder and tips, you’ll be able to prove that you learned enough to land a job in your field!